Regarding Space Travel and a Prostitute

Since we've gotten to the field, I've become one of those people that devours books, especially what Paul and I call "candy books" or books that are just for fun. Lately I've been reading the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series, by Douglas Adams. It originally started out as a British radio comedy program in the 70's, quickly progressing to the book format, then becoming a British TV program in the 80's. Just recently, it was made into a movie. The story centers on Arthur Dent, an Earthman, who's planet was casually demolished to make way for an interstellar by-pass. What follows are his adventures traveling through space with only the pajamas on his back and a towel to his name, meanwhile encountering all sorts of odd things (like the space ship powered by Bistro mathematics) and narrowly escaping horrible fates against all probability. This British comedy series is a must-read for any sci-fi nerd or sci-fi nerd wanna be!

From the other end of the galaxy, literarily speaking, of course, comes another book I just finished. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is a re-telling of the Book of Hosea set in the California Gold Rush of the 1850's. Sold into prostitution as an orphaned child , Angel's hardened heart is patiently and lovingly restored through her unexpected marriage to pioneer-farmer Michael Hosea. In the past, I've avoided romance novels (unless you count classic romances like Pride & Prejudice), thinking that all contemporary romance novels were either trashy or unintelligent; neither of which I was interested in reading. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book was neither. It was written with the skill of an award winning author, and told a beautiful, honest love-story without sullying the mystery of intimacy. While this book is marketed to women, Rivers captures the male character so amazingly well, I think that either sex will be entertained and edified by this book. Hope you get a chance to pick it up!